Athletic training device



Oct. 17, 1950 M. J. GILMAN ATHLETIC TRAINING DEvIcE Filed Dec. 22, 1948 O OQO Ill 4442774/ Jaw/V 670x444/ ATTORNEY patented ct. 147,

A,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,526,217 ATHLETIC TRAINING DEVICE- Martin J. Gilman, Gilman, Conn. Application December 22, 1948, Serial No. 66,683

4 claims. (ottave-55) This invention relates to athletic training devices and more particularly to a portable blocking dummy or protection pad to be used for training athletes in the art of football.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a blocking pad to be used in dummy football scrimmage and combines the advantages of a blocking dummy and a protectivepad for the players. It is in the form of a shield-like member adapted to be carriedby defensive players during fo-otball scrimmage for protecting the players against injury.

Heretofore, protective pads have been in the nature of hip pads, shoulder pads, and other types of protective pads worn on the football players body. The pad of the present invention is held by the defensive player and is provided with specially located handles for easy handling. It is of relatively light weight and does not hamper the speed of the player using the pad.

There is also in the market a type of football dummy known as the shift-type dummy. This is one which rests on the ground and is supported by the player. It is moved about during the progress of the play after the ball is snapped .back and the players are in motion. The primary objection to this type of dummy is its relatively heavy weight which requires special eld storage facilities or requires transporting to distant practice elds. The present pad may be used in the same manner as the shift-type of dummy but because of its relatively light weight, Weighing under twenty pounds, needs no special storage facilities since it can be easily transported to any desired place.

While the present dummy or protective pad is very simple in design and construction, it is entirely new to the game of football and not only does it serve as a useful adjunct in the training of football players, it serves as a protection to both offensive and defensive players even though it is carried only by the defensive player.

Due to its relatively simple design and construction, it lends itself to inexpensive manufacture thereby placing it within the reach of most football teams.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will vbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention ready for use.

-` compared to the average college football player.`

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the rear thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of one of the handles taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Figure l discloses the pad as it is to be used in football scrimmage and the approximate size thereof as The pad is preferably formed of a strong, durable white canvas, although any equivalent material may be used. It is filled with a resilient ller such as curled hair, cotton or may be filled with air when using a non-porous covering. In the drawing, the pad is indicated by numeral l0, the covering by numeral Il and the filler by numeral I2.

The covering Il is formed of front and back sheets of material i3, I4 of generally shield-like form, joined by a continuous strip of like material l5. The strip l5 is stitched to the front and rear walls by stitching I5, Il and the two ends of the strip joined by stitching I8.

As seen in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of longitudinal strips I8 are stitched xto the front and rear Walls to divide the interior of the pad into three separate compartments. Thus, in lling'the interior of the pad, the strips 5B forming the partitions for the' compartments, serve to prevent undue shifting of the filler material within the pad. This contributes to the usefulness and durability of the pad. The present disclosure shows the use of tWo partition members for illustrative purposes only, it being clear that more or less of these partition members can be used.

As seen'in Figures 2 and 5, a pair of handles I9 are firmly stitched or otherwise joined to the rear of the pad for proper handling of the pad. The handles are adapted to be held by both hands of the defensive player as seen in Figure 1 enabling ready manipulation of the pad to any position in' front of the player. The handles are preferably formed of Sponge rubber inserts 20, covered by a canvas material 2|, and stitched to the pad at points 22 and 23. Although the present embodiment shows stitching as the attaching means for the handles, it will be clear that any form of attaching means such as riveting can be used.

From the foregoing description, it is readily apparent that the present device is well adapted to carry out the objects of the invention. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that minor changes may be made in the construction and shape of the device Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A portable .blocking pad for use in teaching the art of football, adapted to be carried by the user and supported in front of the user, comprising a shield-like casing member of relatively soft yieldable material having substantially parallel front and rear surfaces of a width substantially equal to the Width of the human body, cushioning means within said casing member, and handle means mounted on said pad below the top thereof and adjacent the rear surface in position to be grasped by a user to hold the pad in elevated position. l

2. A portable blocking pad as recited in claim l, said handle means comprising a pair of spaced handles.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,250,197 Louppe Dec. 18, 1917 2,203,259 Gilman June 4, 1940 2,472,208 Hackert June 7, 1949 

